The Ministry of Health has come up with a set of guidelines for patrons and organisers of mass public events, as well as for summer camps and child day care centres.

These health recommendations, which have been passed on to the relevant ministries and agencies, come in the wake of the recent incidence of Influenza A (H1N1) here, and may be found on the Barbados Integrated Government (BIG) Portal http://www.gov.bb/ and the Barbados Government Information Service’s website?? https://www.gisbarbados.gov.bb. (Please click here)

According to a Ministry of Health official, "it is imperative that, with the start of the summer camps and the increase in Crop Over events, persons are made aware of what they should do to avoid contracting Influenza A (H1N1). We have to practise good, basic hygiene at all times if we are to control the spread of this virus."

The Ministry continues to monitor the current situation, so that the country can gauge the effects of the flu outbreak and devise appropriate responses. These include heightened surveillance at the ports of entry, particularly over the next two months; and testing of persons who are suspected of having been infected with the virus.?? Confirmatory testing is done by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad.??

To date, more than 120 specimens from Barbados have been sent to CAREC, and of these, 12 have been confirmed as positive for Influenza A (H1N1).

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